DEDICATION

and with a joyful spirit they may attend to their own affairs, and eagerly strive toward this goal, so that it may be apparent that it did not depend on them original: "penes se non stetisse," an idiom meaning they were not the ones standing in the way of progress that the republic of letters original: "res litteraria," referring to the international community of scholars and the collective body of human knowledge was not increased by new and distinguished additions. This, just as it is beneficial to the state original: "reipublicae", is also highly honorable for you, and serves to secure immortal glory among posterity.

For if anything worthy of praise is brought to light by those who, stirred by your favor, undertake any noble works, the sound judgment original: "iudicium" of those who weigh all matters rightly will attribute it no more to the authors than to you; and if any praise original: "laus" arises from the effort, all will equally acknowledge that it is especially owed to you. As for what concerns me, I know that my own strengths are not sufficient for such a great work as I have undertaken; yet I am certain that the attempt itself can be blamed by no one. For of true...